Device for use in making cross sections of fibers



Aug. 13, 1935. J l HARDY 2,011,444

DEVICE FOR USE IN MAKING CROSS SECTIONS OF FIBERS Filed April 23, 1935 INVENT UR JLHARDY BY AT T URNEYS Patented Aug. 13 1935 DEVICE FOR USE IN MAKING ososs SECTIONS OF FIBERS W John I. Hardy, Washington, D. 0. Application April 23, 1935, Serial No. 17,834

8 Claims. (Cl. 88- 40) (Granted under the act of March amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This application ismade under the act approved March 3,1883, as amended by the actqof April 30, 1928; and the invention herein de scribed, if patented, may be manufactured and used'by or for the Government for governmental purposes-without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a device having a fiber slot for use in rapidly making cross sections of wool and other fibers.

v The. rapid methods ordinarily used for making thin cross sections of fibers involve the use of a piece of cork or elder-pith.

In case a piece of cork or elder-pith is used the fibers are threaded through asmall perforation by the use of a needle. The cross section of fibers is obtained by cutting the fibers close to the surfaces of the cork or elder-pith, by means of a sharp instrument. The disadvantages of these methods are due to the time consumed in passing the fibers through the cork and to the fact that the individual fibers are doubled in the process. It is also found in drawing the fibers through a piece of cork or elder-pith that the tension exerted oftengbreaks or distorts the shape of the fibers.

Furthermore, the thickness of the section cannot be accurately controlled and very thin sections are rarely obtainable.

The objects of my present device are to obtain good, thin, cross sections of fibers more rapidly and at the same time to eliminate the disadvantages of existing methods as disclosed above.

I attain these objects by use of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the assembled device and Figure 2 is a cross sectional View of the entire device.

The device involves the use of a circular head I called the cutting head, preferably made of metal, one end of which has a centered fiat surfaced metallic extension l2. Threaded hole 2 of preferred size passes longitudinally through the center of the head I for approximately one-half the length of the head. The balance of the head is hollowed out thereby forming sleeve 9. The sleeve end of the head I, on its outer surface is graduated at its base 5. The circular supporting holder 6 is somewhat larger in diameter for about one-half its length than head I and bears a circular recessed portion 8 adapted to receive sleeve 9 of head I. The balance I3 of the supporting holder 6 adjoining the recessed portion is reduced in diameter so as to enter'the hollowed portion of head I formed by the sleeve 9. Threaded hole [4 similar to threaded hole 2 in head I,-

passes longitudinally through the center of supporting holder 6. The outer surface of holder 6 adjoining the graduation on the sleeve 9 in the assembled device bears a Vernier graduation 1. Rod 3 as used by me is made of celluloid and is threaded to enter threaded holes 2 and M of head l and holder 6 respectively. Rod 3 bears a fiber slot 4 extending lengthwise of the rod." Lock nut l5 is formed to coincide in shape with the other end of holder 6 and a threaded hole l5 passes through its center longitudinally, such hole being adapted to receive threaded rod .3;

It will be observed that the threaded rod 3 although ordinarily made of celluloid, or some such substance for convenience, maybe made of almost any material. If wood, metaL'etc. are used for the rod it would be necessary to use a plastic or adhesive material, such as a celluloid solution or a celluloid wedge and suitable solvent, to hold the fiber in the slot. When a hard material, such as metal is used for the rod, the'cutting of the cross sections would or, course be more difficult and require a sufficient'cutting instru-' ment'such as a saw for example.

I To operate the device the rod 3 is placed in threaded hole M of holder 6, the ends of the rod extending from both ends of'the holder for the desired length. A single hair or'fiber or small group of hairs or fibers are inserted in the fiber slot 4 of the threaded rod 3. The fiber is held in the slot by flowing a sufficient quantity of celluloid solvent into the fiber slot to cover the fibers and fill the slot near the end of'the rod which is to enter head I. A piece of celluloid or other material of a' size just sufficient to fill the slot up to the base of the threadedrod may be placed in the slot as a wedge to hold the fibers in a longitudinal position in the fiber slot. The threaded rod is cut away with a sharp instrument on both sides of the fiber slot. The fiber slot in which the fibers are held is now at the apex of a triangularv shaped piece of material, with only a little material holding the fibers on three sides. The threaded rod 3 is adjusted in the threaded hole 2 of the head i to extend somewhat beyond the face of the head as shown in Figure 1 and the lock nut H1 is screwed on to the other end of the rod against the supporting holder 6 until there is a tight fit where they come together at I l. The supporting holder 6 and the lock nut l0 then serve as a handle for the entire device. By means of a safety razor blade the threaded rod 3 containing the fiber slot and the embedded fiber is cut fiush with the extended surface'of the metal head, to approximately the center of the threaded rod 3, that is suificiently to cut beyond the fib'er slot. This cut portion is removed by being out free with a sharp instrument, thereby leaving a shoulder on the threaded rod 3 about half way across the rod. By means of the graduations on the metal head I and the supportingholder 6 the threaded rod 3 may be advanced according to the thickness required for the cross section. The

cross section is cut'ofi' with a sharp razor, cutting closely to the surface of the cutting head, mounted on a microscope slide, covered with a mounting medium and a cover slip, and is ready for microscopic examination. This device is especially intended for cutting of individual fibers for identification purposes, but may be used for cutting groups of hairs or fibers.

From the above disclosures it will be apparent that minor mechanical variations may be made in the structure'of the device without departing 'from the spirit of the invention.

'nally; a reduced extended portion at one end adapted toenter the hollowed portion of the cutting head and a recessed portion to receive said sleeve of the cutting head, a threaded rod adaptedto beinserted in both said-threaded holes and having a longitudinally placed fiber slot; a lock nut adjacent the other end of the supporting member adapted to receive the threaded rod and I means 'to'measure themovement of said threaded rod in the threaded hole of the cutting head.

'Adevice for use'in making cross sections of fibers 'comprisinga cutting head having a threaded hole through its center longitudinally, a

threaded rod having a longitudinally placed fiber 'sloitand adapted to enter and extend through said threaded hole, means to support the threaded rod in the threaded hole and means to measure the extension'of the threaded rod beyond the free end of the cutting head.

3. In a device for use in making cross sections of fibers having supporting members withthreaded perforations, a threadedrod adapted to enter and extend 'throughsaid perforations and having a fiber slot passing along the side of said threaded rod.

4'. In a device for use in making cross sections of fibers having supporting members with threaded perforations, a threaded celluloid rod adapted to enter and extend through said perforations and having a-fiber slot passing longitudinally along the said threaded rod. 1

5; In a device for use inmaking cross sections of fibers having a perforated supporting member,

a rod adapted to enter and extend through such 7 perforation in the supporting member, said rod having a fiber slot along: its side. I 6. In a device for use in making crosssections of fibers having a perforated supporting member,

a celluloid rod adapted to enter and extend through such perforation in the supporting mem-' her, said celluloid rod having a fibe'r'slot along its side.

'7. A device for use in making cross sections'of' fibers comprising a cuttirg head having a hole passing longitudinally through its center, a rod having a longitudinally placed fiber slot and adapted toenter and extend through said hole in the cutting head, means to support the rod in the hole and means to measure the, movement of the rod in. the hole.- I

8. A device for use'in making, cross sections of fibers comprising a cutting head having ahole passing longitudinally through its center, a cellu loid rod having a fiber slot along its, side and adapted to enter and extend throu'gh said hole in the cutting head, means to support the rod i'n the hole and means to measure the movement'of the rod in the hole. i

JOHN'I. HARDY." 

